Archive for the 'Cody Kessler' Tag Under 'USC' Category

Here's video of USC linebacker Su'a Cravens talking to the press at Pac-12 Media Days on Friday in Burbank. Subjects include not using the sanctions as a crutch, embracing having a bull's-eye on the team's back, compartmentalizing expectations, how quarterback Cody Kessler has improved and the sting of losing to UCLA.

Here's video of USC quarterback Cody Kessler talking to the press at Pac-12 Media Days on Friday in Burbank. Subjects include his elevated profile, Coach Steve Sarkisian's reputation, last year being "below average," talking to and being mentioned with past USC quarterbacks and wanting to be better than a "10-4/9-4 quarterback."

Here are some of USC coach Steve Sarkisian’s comments from his availability at Pac-12 Media Days on Friday in Burbank. I’ll have more nuggets later, as well as video interviews with quarterback Cody Kessler and linebacker Su’a Cravens.

(on being picked to win the Pac-12 by the media)

We’re appreciative of what you guys think of us. But the reality is, we need to go out and prove it.

(on the program having high expectations)

We didn't come here to be OK. We didn't come here to be mediocre. We came here to win championships.

We’re doing two-a-days now – a pair of USC opponent previews today-Wednesday with help from a guest beat writer. We’ll then take a break for Pac-12 Media Days before previewing the UCLA game early next week with Register colleague Joey Kaufman.

We're almost to the finish line in the Register’s exclusive countdown of the 15 most valuable USC football players of 2015.

Two reminders before we get to the next Trojan on the list:

1. The primary factors in determining value include projected role and production; depth at an MVP candidate’s position; the player’s overall talent and expected impact on the success of the team; and intangible traits such as leadership and toughness.

2. Incoming freshmen and transfers were not considered. Although several might emerge as extremely valuable pieces, as was the case last season, it’s impossible to predict how impactful they’ll be in Year 1. Besides, this exercise is subjective enough already.

We’ve reached the final four and our final entry of the week in the Register’s exclusive countdown of the 15 most valuable USC football players of 2015. We’ll disclose the top three next week.

Two reminders before we get to the next Trojan on the list:

1. The primary factors in determining value include projected role and production; depth at an MVP candidate’s position; the player’s overall talent and expected impact on the success of the team; and intangible traits such as leadership and toughness.

2. Incoming freshmen and transfers were not considered. Although several might emerge as extremely valuable pieces, as was the case last season, it’s impossible to predict how impactful they’ll be in Year 1. Besides, this exercise is subjective enough already.

We’ve reached the top five in our countdown of the 15 most valuable USC football players of 2015.

Two reminders before we get to the next Trojan on the list:

1. The primary factors in determining value include projected role and production; depth at an MVP candidate’s position; the player’s overall talent and expected impact on the success of the team; and intangible traits such as leadership and toughness.

2. Incoming freshmen and transfers were not considered. Although several might emerge as extremely valuable pieces, as was the case last season, it’s impossible to predict how impactful they’ll be in Year 1. Besides, this exercise is subjective enough already.

This is the last entry of the week in our continuing countdown of the 15 most valuable USC football players of 2015. The series will resume Monday.

Two reminders before we get to the next Trojan on the list:

1. The primary factors in determining value include projected role and production; depth at an MVP candidate’s position; the player’s overall talent and expected impact on the success of the team; and intangible traits such as leadership and toughness.

2. Incoming freshmen and transfers were not considered. Although several might emerge as extremely valuable pieces, as was the case last season, it’s impossible to predict how impactful they’ll be in Year 1. Besides, this exercise is subjective enough already.

Who will be USC’s most valuable player this season? How do you define value?

We’ll attempt to answer those questions here over the next few weeks as we present the 15 Most Valuable Trojans of 2015.

Let’s begin by noting that every single player has some value, even those who will have minimal roles or won’t play at all this season. But a select few rise above the rest based on the criteria we’re using.

The primary factors include projected role and production; depth at an MVP candidate’s position; the player’s overall talent and expected impact on the success of the team; and intangible traits such as leadership and toughness.

Incoming freshmen and transfers were not considered for this list. Although several might emerge as extremely valuable pieces, as was the case last season, it’s impossible to predict how impactful they’ll be in Year 1. Besides, this exercise is subjective enough already.

USC football coach Steve Sarkisian sat down with the Register to talk about his team before meeting with donors, alumni and fans at the Trojan Huddle coaches’ tour stop in Newport Beach. Here’s the first half of our conversation. Stay tuned for Part 2 on Wednesday.

Question: How do you feel in general about the state of the program?

Sarkisian: I really like our team. Not that we’re perfect. We’ve got issues and holes like everybody else does. (But) it’s always great to have a fifth-year senior quarterback (Cody Kessler). That’s hard to replace. Cody gives us something unique that way. And (the fact) that we have a veteran center (Max Tuerk) on our offensive line who has played a lot of football and seen a lot of football. Those two things are great.

Then you look at the rest of our offense – we’re pretty youthful. I know (left tackle) Chad Wheeler, when we get him back, is a relatively experienced guy. But the rest of the offensive line, as talented as they are, they’re young. The receiving corps is pretty young. The running back position, Justin (Davis) got his reps last year; Tre (Madden) had some from the year before. (But) we’re going to be pretty youthful there, especially with the freshmen coming in. The tight end position will be relatively youthful. I’m glad we have some mainstays at quarterback and center, but we’re going to be relying on some youth.

On the defensive side of the ball, I really believe we’re going to play better defense … We’re going to play better team defense. Sometimes when you have a great player on your defense (e.g., Leonard Williams), it’s easy to sit there and say, ‘Leonard, go make the play.’ Or just wait for Leonard to make the play. Instead of, I need to do my job over and over and over so that we all can make the play. I love Leonard to death, and believe me, I wish we still had him. But I think that component is really going to help us.